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Insula Ovinium 2
Hogarth House, Chiswick . 1st
-31st May 2005
To mark
the anniversary of the 1732 peregrination,
Insula Ovinium
returns to the home of Hogarth. Last summer
the artists retraced William Hogarth's Frolic to the Isle of Sheppey, and
made works during a residency there. New works inspired by the journey are
being exhibited alongside the original Hogarth prints within the museum.
Peter Ainsworth, Brigette Ashton, Nicole Mollett, Wendy Lewis, David Medulla, Adam Nankervis, Georgina Batty, Sumer Erek, Jeanine Woollard,Charlotte Moth, Cyril Lepetit, Andrew Pomphery, Kit Wingate, Kiki Benzon, Bernhard Frankel,and Mmmmm.
To view animations of the opening event performances by artist group Mmmmm go to www.mmmmm.org.uk.
'Scurvy' by Adam Nankervis
Mmmmm
Jeanine Woollard
Wendy Lewis
Mmmmm
Bridgette Ashton
Andrew Pomphery
Kit Wingate
Insula
Ovinium
14th August - 12th September
The Rockhouse, The Coast
Study Centre, Queenborough Guildhall.
Sheppey 2004
The project began at the Rockhouse Gallery , Isle of Sheppey in 2004. Insula Ovinium retraced the steps of Hogarth and his friends in an attempt to draw parallels or indeed look at the differences between 18th century Britain and what we see around us today. Seventeen artists took part in a five day peregrination in mid July leaving from London by train to Rochester, then boarding a boat that took them down the Medway to Queenborough then on to Sheerness. The Rockhouse Gallery has studio space above it with a dark room, which the artists were able to use to make their work.
The History
William Hogarth was in the Bedford Arms
on the Strand one Saturday night in 1732 discussing matters with his
friends when they decided around midnight to set off on a peregrination to
the Isle of Sheppey. Only leaving enough time to grab an extra shirt they
set off on a five day trip which led them to Rochester and then down the
Medway to the docks of Queenborough. The peregrinators (or pilgrims as
they called themselves) retold their journey in a privately made book
which was displayed in the Bedford Arms but then later printed under the
title of "Hogarth's Frolic - a five day peregrination to the Isle of
Sheppey".
Inside the book they recount in
drawings, poetry and text their exciting adventure to the very last
detail, painting a vivid image of 18th century Britain. What makes the
book so special is that it is a personal account by all five participants.
The peregrination was a reaction against the cultural trend at that time
to seek inspiration in art and architecture in Italy and Greece. It was a
real and honest account right down to the pile of cow dung that one of the
group slipped in and got all over his jacket.
The Peregrination; 18th - 23rd July
(London-Rochester-Sheerness)
The artists met in Rochester and were taken to the Island by
three yachts, (Illios skippered by Neil Perry and his family, Moriarty
skippered by Gerry and Diana Lewin, and Stella skippered by Oli)
to Queenborough Habour. In honour of Hogarth they were forced to drink gin
and eat real english cheese and salt beef, as this is what he had on his
journey. The ride was pleasant, a mild force four, Illios being the larger
boat made good head way, but the Stella overtook, only to be caught out in
the estuary and coming last in shore. After having visited the Guildhall
Museum they all enjoyed a sunday roast at the Royal Pub Sheerness, before
going on to their accommodation at the CYC. The group stayed in the old army barracks of the club, which had not been
slept in since the 80's , thus everything was in true Sheppey style, a bit
out of date! This of coarse only lead to more hilarity within the group as
the went about exploring the island. Quite a few of the artists were
captivated by the Islands beautiful nature reserves, but among other top
visits were the Harty Ferry Pub, Minster Museum, the concrete factory and
of coarse the beach.
The exhibition took place in three venues;
The Rockhouse Gallery The Coast Study Centre Queenborough Guildhall
The Acknowledgements
The organisers of Insula Ovinium would like to thank the following individuals and organisations for their kind help and contributions;
Arts Council,
Robert and Lynn Aspindale,
Jenny Uglow,
Skipper Neil Perry and family,
Skipper Oli,
Skipper and councillor Gerald Lewin,
Peter, Howard, and Gabriele Mollett,
Bettina Ganser, Adi,
Kris Verle, Peter Speakman of Swale Borough Council,
Sarah Draper of Medway Swale Estuary Partnership,
Sheila O’Connell,
Madura Dickenson, Chris Read and the
Big Fish Band,
Kevin O’Reilly of Sheppey Matters,
The Catamaran Yacht Club,
The Isle of Sheppey Yacht Club,
Tribune Graphics,
The Royal Pub,
Minster Museum,
London Biennale, Mumin the printer, the lady with six children who came to
every workshop, Artists Newsletter and
The British Museum.
